Does it really matter what order I play the routes in?

[KFCBUCKETS9000]

I just beat act one for Rean, Lloyd, and c. Now I can play either one.

[Koby]

No. You're pretty much forced to jump between routes at specific times in order to advance the plot so you can just play a route until those moments arrive.

[Alex]

I feel there's a minor bit of side stuff skipped before C is exposed depending on which route you play, Rean or ???. Can't yet confirm though, as I'm on the first playthrough and don't intend to return until it's complete.

[AshaMarie]

Best to play through a route until it stops you to switch to another so you can trade out the best accessories and quartz granted you far enough the game lets you do that. For me, I was always moving around the rage quartz for example to the party's evade tank.

[Stabbey]

You can choose the order, but you will need to play all routes eventually. Someone suggested an order to play which sets up questions and answers in a way which is more satisfying.

Act 1: Lloyd -> Rean -> C
Act 2: Lloyd -> Rean -> C
Act 3: C -> Lloyd -> Rean -> Lloyd -> C -> Rean
Act 4: C -> Lloyd -> Rean

Doing it in that order might be best story-wise, but the boss fight for Lloyd at the end of Act 2 is a "Win in 40 turns for bonus RP" one, and it could be a little difficult more without having done the other two routes first. You won't have the aforementioned Rage quartz available for that fight if you complete Lloyd's Act 2 route first.

So perhaps a better way would be:

Act 2: Lloyd (Part 1) -> Rean -> C -> Lloyd (Part 2)

EDIT: The post below describes the same route I've suggested.

[Leigh]

This post on Reddit seems to be a decent route. Will be the one I follow. Accounts for "TRC" visits, too.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Falcom/comments/14qdr56/trails_into_reverie_recommended_route_order_guide/

[Puke87]

it presents it like a choice but your forced to play all 3 equally